How and when do I file my taxes?
Taxes are due on April 15 every year. GEO offers tax help for international students starting from March until mid-April. You should expect to start receiving emails from iadvisor@unm.edu concerning taxes every January/February. Do I have to file taxes even if I did not work and did not make money?
Yes, if you were in the U.S. for even just one day in F,M,J, or Q status for the current tax year, then you must file an 8843 tax form.
For example: If it is the 2019 tax year and you arrived on December 31st, 2019 or earlier, you need to file tax form 8843. If you arrived January 1st, 2020 or later, you do not need to file taxes for the 2019 tax year; however, you will need to file for the 2020 tax year.
For detailed instruction, please email iadvisor@unm.edu
I have already left the US; Do I still need to file taxes?
If you were in the U.S. for even just one day during the tax filling year, then you must file your taxes.
For example: If it is the 2019 tax year and you arrived on December 31st, 2019 or earlier, you need to file taxes. If you arrived January 1st, 2020 or later, you do not need to file taxes for the 2019 tax year; however, you will need to file for the 2020 tax year.
I just got hired for a new job; what exemption number should I put on my W-4?
If you are filing as a non-resident, you must put Single, 0, or 1 even if you are married.
What is the difference between 0 and 1?
0: Putting 0 on your W-4 means that more taxes will be taken out of your paycheck each time you are paid, but because of this you are likely to receive a larger refund since the government might owlet you money for overpaying on your taxes. We recommend choosing this option if you don't mind being paid less throughout the year — but remember that you willable a lower chance of owing money at the end of the year.
1: Putting a 1 on your W-4 means that less taxes will be taken out of your paycheck each time you are paid, but because of this you will either receive a small refund, or might even owe the government money depending on how much money you make. We recommend choosing this option if you need more money throughout the year (for bills, for example) — but remember that you have a higher chance of owing money after filing taxes.
If you are unsure which to pick, GEO highly recommends picking 0. It is a safer option because you would have a lower chance of owing the government money at the end of the year.
Which forms do I need to file for taxes?
Every situation is different. Most people who work in the US will receive a W-2, which lists one’s income for the year and how much tax they have already paid. Some students with special scholarships or tax treaties will receive a 1042S. If you have the government Market Place Insurance, you will need tax form 1095A.
Where do I get my W-2 from my employer?
Your employer should mail you your W-2. If you are worried about not receiving it, you must reach out to your employer directly.
Where do I get my W-2 from UNM?
If you are working for UNM, you should be able to find you W-2 in your Loboweb, under employee and tax forms. You can also email pay@unm.edu if you have additional questions concerning UNM tax forms.
How do I receive my W-2 from UNM if I transferred schools?
How do I receive my W-2 if I transferred schools?
If you no longer have access to my.unm.edu, please email pay@unm.edu for detailed instruction on how you can retrieve your tax forms. Also, always make sure to update your personal information and address through my.unm.edu.What address to I send my tax documents to?
Once you have completed your taxes, the instruction page will have the address you must use to mail your finished tax return. It is a different address for federal and state taxes.If you are unsure about the address, come into GEO for assistance.
How do I file taxes if I moved to a different state/ transferred to a different school?
You can contact your current school to see how they advise students for tax filling. If you are working on OPT and moved states, then you can email iadvisor@unm.edu for the tax filling code. Every situation is a little different, so please contact iadvisor@unm.edu for more specific information. If I moved to a different state, do I need to do taxes for both states?
If you made income in New Mexico during the tax year, and then moved to another state in the same tax year and had income there, then yes, you need to complete federal taxes, NM state taxes, and the other state’s taxes as well.
Am I a tax resident?
Generally, international students are considered "non-resident" aliens for tax purposes, thus, they do not qualify for any of the benefits associated with tax resident status.
Tax resident
International students are considered a resident for tax purposes after being in the U.S. for five calendar years.
I am a tax resident; can I use a different tax software?
Yes, as a tax resident you may use whichever tax software you prefer. We advise that you use free-filling software, such as Turbo Tax or freetaxusa.com. You may also use services that charge a fee for tax filling, like H&R Block.
Can I get the URL and access code for the tax software provided by GEO for non residents?
The URL access code is usually not available until March. The code is available in two ways: coming to the in-person tax help through the GEO VITA site or emailing iadvisor@unm.edu for the code.
If you are a tax resident, please consider filing with a different tax software since the tax codes provided by GEO are in limited supply.
